CONNECT – MAY 2023

With Term 2 well underway the College is incredibly busy with a number of milestone events and days occurring. It has been pleasing to see students modelling our Value of Leadership which is a focus for Term 2. Students have been:

• learning to hold themselves and others accountable by organising themselves to complete tasks and meet deadlines.
• learning to be open to new and different ways of learning by challenging themselves and persisting with learning.
• learning to treat everyone fairly by behaving in ways that doesn’t disrupt the learning of others.

IDAHOBIT DAY

Greenvale Secondary College together with the Department of Education acknowledged IDAHOBIT Day on Wed 17th May.

IDAHOBIT Day is the International Day against Homophobia, Biphobia, Intersexism, Transphobia discrimination. The 17th May marks the anniversary of the day in 1990 when the World Health Organization removed homosexuality from the classification of disease and related health problems.

We acknowledge and celebrate this day to raise awareness of the discrimination that LGBTIQ+ people still face.

The day aims to raise awareness of violence and discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex and queer (LGBTIQ) people. This is a genuine extension of the schools bullying prevention policy as supporting and promoting IDAHOBIT means strengthening human rights for everyone and taking a stand against violence, discrimination, and oppression toward LGBTIQ people.

At the College we stand united in our commitment to creating a safe, inclusive and welcoming learning place for all students including LGBTIQ people and foster a safe environment that is supportive and inclusive of LGBTIQ+ student and recognises that creating a safe and inclusive environment is key to tackling bullying and harassment and preventing suicide and self-harm.

All students should be safe from bullying and feel included at school. Students who don’t feel safe or included at school cannot learn effectively and reach their full potential.

EDUCATION WEEK

This year, Education Week runs from Sunday 14 to Saturday 20 May. The theme Active Learners: Move, Make, Motivate celebrates the many ways students learn, through physical activity, hands on learning and student voice.

Education Week is an opportunity for our school to celebrate and share with you how we encourage our students to be active learners.

Our school is proud to encourage active learners through our ever-expanding programs, clubs and activities – including holding our Annual Athletics Carnival during Education Week.

COLLEGE REVIEW PROCESS

Our parent community will be aware that the College recently sent a link and asked parents to complete a survey which will help inform the future direction of the College.

Every 4 years, all schools are required to conduct a review process which then informs the next Strategic Plan. This process also provides assurance of the ongoing compliance with the standards relating to curriculum and student learning.

Whilst we know that we have achieved a lot in a short period, we are also aware that there is much still to do.

This term, the College will host our review which will be conducted by a panel, utilising the expertise of challenge partners and convened by an independent school reviewer. Our review panel will consist of:

• Jane Kovacs (Independent Reviewer)
• Vivienne Tellefson (Senior Education Improvement Leader – DET)
• Andra Guccione (School Council President)
• 2 SRC Students
• Marcia Devlin (CEO, The Academy of Teaching and Leadership)
• Nathan Chisolm (Principal, Prahran High School)
• Sean Butler (Principal, Preston High School)

I look forward to keeping the community updated on this important work.

ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM REVIEW

Based on student, staff and parent feedback – we are reviewing the current structure of our Enhancement Program.

Based on feedback received:

• Students – would like an enhancement program, however the current preferencing system is not clear to them and in some cases, despite parent support – they are disgruntled at being in a growth enhancement or not getting their first preference.
• Staff – would like to see enhancement counted as face-to-face teaching time. The inclusion of clearer intervention, extension and passion subjects should be strengthened.
• Parents – the Enhancement program is a part of what attracts parents to the College, and they value the opportunity if gives their child.

NON-CLASSROOM LEARNING EXPERIENCES: CAMPS, EXCURSIONS AND SPORTS

‘The mind, once stretched by a new idea, never returns to its original dimensions.’ -Ralph Waldo Emerson

With the busy pace of Term 2 even before we reach its halfway point, it is an appropriate time to acknowledge the immense value that camps, excursions and extra-curricular activities bring to our students. Term 2 has or will include camps for both Year 7 and 8, the Year 7 Zoo Excursion, the Year 8 Museum Excursion, the Athletics Carnival and a range of interschool sports.

While it may seem at times that such activities can be disruptive to learning time or interrupt the classroom routines of students, as educators we believe that the value is inimitable in the classroom. These experiences provide unique opportunities for personal growth, skill development, and the acquisition of knowledge that directly supports student learning.

Research into non-classroom learning experiences indicates that deliberately structured excursions to novel locations that are clearly linked to classroom learning can lead to both cognitive and affective learning. Benefits of moving students out of the comfort zone of school and into the real world that have been highlighted include “increased motivation or interest, sparking curiosity, or improved attitudes towards a topic” (DeWitt, J & Storksdieck, 2008).

As we prepare to invite our first cohort of Year 9 students to select their learning programs for 2024, it is worth considering the introductions to future professions that off-site activities offer, which can lead to career aspirations, part-time jobs, work experience program and professional contacts. They also expose pupils a different group of working adults with a diversity of personalities and teaching styles, which can enrich their engagement in the same topics when back in the classroom (McGenity et al., 2020).

At GSC we firmly believe in the transformative power of off-site experiences to enhance classroom learning, build resilience and help students become confident to venture outside of their comfort zones. These experiences bridge the gap between school and the outside world, promote critical learning skills, and ignite students’ excitement for their own future careers.

The College encourages you to support your child’s participation in these opportunities whenever they arise, as they are a building block to their academic success and empower them with the skills necessary to thrive in an ever-evolving world.

BENEFITS OF NON-CLASSROOM LEARNING EXPERIENCES

1. Applied Learning and Real-World Connections: students apply their classroom learning in real-world contexts and make connections between theoretical concepts and practical applications.
2. Critical Thinking and Problem-Solving Skills: students encounter new situations and challenges, stimulating analytical thinking skills and the ability to think creatively to find solutions.
3. Memory Retention and Long-Term Learning: multisensory experiences outside the classroom encourage retention of information, create lasting memories and anchor knowledge, enabling students to recall and apply what they have learned over an extended period.
4. Motivation and Engagement: shared positive experiences on off-site trips promote connectedness to peers and school staff upon return. This improved sense of belonging is reflected in increased classroom participation and a willingness to take on academic challenges. Roles during events involving passion areas such as sport also create an opportunity for leadership experience to a wider range of students.
5. Collaboration and Communication Skills: collaborative activities with peers that occur more independently of teachers than in a classroom. Students who participate in camps activities and duties improve their teamwork and communication, and bring this learning back to classroom tasks.

DeWitt, J., & Storksdieck, M. (2008). A Short Review of School Field Trips: Key Findings from the Past and Implications for the Future. Visitor Studies, 11(2), 181–197. https://doi.org/10.1080/10645570802355562

McGenity, T. J., Gessesse, A., Hallsworth, J. E., Garcia Cela, E., Verheecke‐Vaessen, C., Wang, F., Chavarría, M., Haggblom, M. M., Molin, S., Danchin, A., Smid, E. J., Lood, C., Cockell, C. S., Whitby, C., Liu, S., Keller, N. P., Stein, L. Y., Bordenstein, S. R., Lal, R., & Nunes, O. C. (2020). Visualizing the invisible: class excursions to ignite children’s enthusiasm for microbes. Microbial Biotechnology, 13(4), 844–887. https://doi.org/10.1111/1751-7915.13576

Term 1 and 2 has been an amazing time of growth and expansion within the instrumental music program with new students starting in new instruments at the college, recruitment programs, lunchtime concerts and lessons happening exposing students to a wide range of playing opportunities.

We have been running recruitment programs through this cycle exposing year 8s to new instruments available at the college like saxophone, clarinet, trumpet, flute as well as a wide range of other instruments that students can learn, Terri McPhail has been instrumental in bringing students into the program to expose them to the many musical options available. Terri has run the recruitment showcases throughout year 8’s mentor classes playing different instruments and songs for the students with many students unaware of the options available to them. Greenvale SC is so lucky to have such a vast array of music instruments available to the students and if a student is interested in an instrument to get a form from Mr Rocek and return it so we can accommodate their interests.

Instrumental students put on a performance at a lunchtime concert for students and staff in the library we had so many people in attendance packing out the library supporting their fellow students performing which was fantastic to see. We had Elisa Ozoban and Jasmine Kumar performing Malibu by Miley Cyrus which was a hit students loved hearing the students sing a song with so many melodic vocal jumps which was so impressive to hear from year 7s. Then we had some keyboard students play which include Peter Tso 7E performing the Can Can, Shane Silva playing The Saints Go Marching In and Christopher Phillips 7E finishing us off, we are so lucky to have such talented piano students playing at events. Next we had Osman Oner performing remotely for us as he was at camp, so he prerecorded his performance of Caught Up by Usher for everyone wowing staff and students who complimented his musical maturity being well advanced in his drumming vocabulary. Lastly we had our music ensemble students playing with students Deniz Bagriyanik playing Old Town Road, Bella-Rose Beninati playing Mary Had A Little Lamb and Addison Roberts playing Hot Cross Buns which was amazing that such difficult instruments were played so great for only having less than a terms worth of lessons. Students will have more opportunities to perform every term so keep an eye out for more performances from instrumental teachers.

We want to welcome back Toby Hammond from leave as he comes back into his lessons. We also have spaces open for the music ensemble led by Terri McPhail so if you are interested please see Terri or Mr Rocek for more information so you can be apart of the amazing things happening in the performing arts department.

Wellbeing has a large effect on student learning outcomes, and success in learning enhances student wellbeing.  The Department of Education recognises this by adding wellbeing to the centre of FISO  (Framework for Improving Student Outcomes )2.0

For students to be productive learners, their wellbeing needs to be in the healthy range. Wellbeing is linked to improved academic achievement, enhanced mental health and responsible life choices.

Wellbeing is a multi-faceted concept involving more than just physical health. It’s a combination of a person’s emotional, mental and social health and it also reflects how they feel about themselves and their life in general.

To support student wellbeing Greenvale Secondary College provide a multi-tier system of support through whole school learning, small therapeutic group opportunities and one on one support.

BREAKFAST CLUB/LUNCH NEEDS

Breakfast club continues to run on a Thursday morning. In addition to this if a student every needs breakfast in the morning before school they can attend the Student Services office and a staff member can assist.

For whatever reason a student attends school without lunch, a visit to Student Services will see their stomach full as a result of Foodbank’s kind donations of lunch time food products.

HOMEWORK CLUB

Homework club continues for students on a Monday and Tuesday afternoon from 3:00pm to 4:00pm. Permission needs to be granted by parents/ carers for attendance.  A reminder that if your child does not have any homework then attending homework club is not an option.

RAISE MENTORING

Raise mentoring has begun with a number of year 8 students participating in the program.  Students have the opportunity to focus on growth in areas off mental health  (help-seeking behaviour), social and emotional wellbeing, and school engagement. Mentors provide support, advice and skill-building for young people to increase help-seeking, goal-setting, resilience and hope.

MPOWER

Year 7 and Year 8 females students together with Mental Health Practitioner Julia Bediga are focusing  on changing the culture in relation to interacting with each other. Incorporating Narrative Therapy, the program gets female students to be more mindful of how they think, talk and act towards each other.

IDAHOBIT DAY  17^TH MAY

Greenvale Secondary College together with the Department of Education will be acknowledging IDAHOBIT Day on Wed 17^th May

IDAHOBIT day is the International Day against Homophobia, Biphobia, Intersexism, Transphobia discrimination. The 17^th May marks the anniversary of the day in 1990 when the World Health Organization removed homosexuality from the Classification of disease and related health problems.

We acknowledge and celebrate this day to raise awareness of the discrimination that LGBTIQ+ people still face.

POSITIVE LEARNING FRAMEWORK

Well done to Hayle Khartabil who won the first attendance raffle. Raffles are drawn every second Friday in mentor. 100% attendance for the 2 weeks leading up to the raffle.

The Rewards Shop will be open for students to exchange their positive reward points on 26^th May. Prizes are on display in the student foyer of the administration building

State School Relief Fundraiser

CSEF

The Camps, Sports and Excursions Fund (CSEF) provides payments for eligible students to attend activities like:

• school camps or trips
• swimming and school-organised sports programs
• outdoor education programs
• excursions and incursions.

Families holding a valid means-tested concession card or temporary foster parents are eligible to apply. A Special Consideration category also exists. Schools can receive applications from families over terms one and two.

Applications close on 23 June 2023

FAREWELL ROMY GLENN- SUBSCHOOL YOUTH WORKER/ COUNSELLOR AND GIANNI – MONASH UNIVERSITY MASTERS OF COUNSELLING STUDENT PLACEMENT

WELCOME TO JANAN ALLOUCHE SECONDARY SCHOOL NURSE

From the 23^rd May Greenvale Secondary College welcomes Janan Allouche.   Janah will be at Greenvale Secondary College on a Monday and Tuesday.  Janah will be working with the Student Services team to provide support to students via whole school education and also small group interventions.

WELCOME LIAM AND CLAIRE- NEXUS

This term Claire and Liam have joined Greenvale Secondary College.  Both are students through the Latrobe University Nexus Program.   Claire specialising in Humanities and Maths and Liam Maths and Science.  Claire and Liam spend extensive time in the classroom supporting students and developing their teaching skills.

It has been a great start for the Greenvale Secondary College students in the SSV competitions.

We had 20 students participating in the District cross country event at woodlands historic park. Noah Tarallo finished first in his age group and broke the course record by completing the 3km time trial in 10 minutes and 5 seconds. The year 7 group had just as much success with 3 boys finishing in the top 5. Oliver Touhey finished first, Aydin Yildiz finished third and Ryan Babinsky finished seventh. We will have 8 students competing at the Northern metropolitan regional finals.

It is an action-packed term, with lots of opportunities coming up for our students. On the 19^th of May we will host our in-house Athletics carnival where students will have the opportunity to qualify for the regional Track and field events. On the 29^th of May we will be competing in SSV soccer, AFL and Netball competitions in which our students can qualify for the Northern Metropolitan Regional finals.

MEET OUR ADMINSTRATION TEAM

 Elizabeth Cullen – Business Manager

Liz is responsible for all HR, finance, facilities and operations matters at the College. You can get in touch if you have enquiries about billing, payments or CSEF applications.

 Sonia Saitov – Sub School Leader

Sonia is responsible for sub-school administration and attendance.

 Connie Midiri – Executive Assistant/Daily Organiser

Connie is responsible for daily organising and the school’s schedule. Connie is also responsible for transition and enrolment enquiries.

Our Administration Team, are always happy to assist and support all students and families at the front reception daily. Our Administration Office is open 8:00am – 4:00pm Monday to Friday. We are committed to doing our best and if you ever have any questions or queries, we are here to help.

KEY DATES

LATE ARRIVAL TO SCHOOL

Students who arrive late to school, after 8:50am, must sign in through the Compass Kiosk either using their student card or Compass Login details.

Parents/Guardians can either use the Compass Kiosk to sign their child late or contact the Office on 8393 0000, advising us why their child will be late.

EARLY DEPARTURE FROM SCHOOL

We realise that at times you need to pick up your child early from school. When your child needs to be picked up early from school, can you please either contact the Office on 8393 0000 or send your child with a note to bring into Office Administration letting us know, the time you will be picking up your child. This will ensure the class teacher will be notified your child needs to leave class. 

When picking up your child early, you are required to come into the Administration Office and sign your child out through the Compass Kiosk.

ATTENDANCE – IT’S NOT OK TO BE AWAY! 

Daily school attendance is important for all children and young people to succeed in education and to ensure they don’t fall behind both socially and developmentally. Children and young people who regularly attend school and complete Year 12 or an equivalent qualification have better health outcomes, better employment outcomes, and higher incomes across their lives. It is important that children develop habits of regular attendance at an early age. 

We realise some absences are unavoidable due to health problems or other circumstances. But we also know that when students miss too much school – regardless of the reason – it can cause them to fall behind academically.  

It is important that you contact the school as soon as possible on 8393 0000 or log onto the Compass Portal to inform us of your child’s absence.  

We also ask parents/guardians/carers to regularly monitor their child’s attendance through the Compass Parent Portal. 

COMPASS LOG IN

Families requiring assistance with their Compass login contact the Administration Office on 8393 000 and we can assist you with your login details and password.

CANTEEN ORDERS

Families can order their child’s lunch through Compass each day, before 10:30am.   Students are to go to the canteen to collect their orders at the start of lunch.

If you miss the cut off for lunch orders, you are welcome to bring lunch or money to the Administration Office so your student doesn’t miss out.

 YEAR 7 IMMUNISATION PROGRAM

 A reminder that the Year 7 Immunisation Program is booked for Monday 29 May 2023. This is a program delivered by Hume Council. It is important that ALL parents respond on behalf of their students, whether or not you consent to the vaccinations.

You will be able to select one of the following options:

• Already vaccinated
• I do not consent
• I consent

EVERY DAY COUNTS 

A day here or there doesn’t seem like much but… 

UNIFORM – TERM 2

At the beginning of Term 2, all students should start wearing their Summer Full School Uniform. Students who are not in Full School Uniform, we ask that a note is brought the Administration Office, explaining why your child cannot wear their full school uniform, so a uniform pass can be issued for the day.

LOST PROPERTY

Students at times loose their clothing and personal items. We have a lost property cupboard.  If your child has lost clothing or school items, please come and check at the Administration Office.

It is important to put name tags on your child’s clothing/stationary, to ensure any lost items can be returned to the owner.

PURCHASE OF UNIFORMS

Uniform items can be purchased from Noone Imagewear.

New Craigieburn Store Open. Shop A2-E,  420-440 Craigieburn Rd, Craigieburn.  Shopping Precinct – Craigieburn Junction. Cnr Craigieburn Rd and Aitken Boulevard. Store is located next to Carpet Call.

Online orders call also be placed directly at https://www.noone.com.au